RealtorMag.REALTOR.orgNOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2013 REALTOR® 37
or be helped by the matching service. Within a year,
Meservey had found a living kidney donor.

Since then, life has largely returned to normal for
Meservey. He has energy for his four children, he’s
back at work, and he’s been able to do renovations
on his home.

Pratt and MatchingDonors.com were literally hislife-savers. “You wouldn’t be able to do it yourself ifit weren’t for that Web site,” Meservey says. “I thankGod the process was there for me to find a donor.”Pratt doesn’t just pass out cards. As a volunteer,he instruct patients like Meservey on how to searchfor donors in MatchingDonors’ database. Once aprospective donor is found, the organization helpsset them up with a hospital to test whether they area good match.

And since 2004, Pratt has used his sales skills
to raise more than $1 million for the organization.

He starts by soliciting property donations. Once hefinds people to donate homes and other property, heand others resell the property and give the proceeds,including commissions, to MatchingDonors.com.

In addition to houses, Pratt has sold donated
cars, boats, and entire stocks of inventory from
stores going out of business. He finds donations and
buyers using old-fashioned marketing. He hits the
pavement. And, of course, he passes out Matching
Donors.com cards everywhere he goes.

“Everyone knows someone who knows someonewho needs an organ,” Pratt says. “You can find com-passion anywhere.”The organization has saved 500 lives since its in-ception, and MatchingDonors.com CEO Paul Dooleyattributes hundreds of those success stories toPratt’s e;orts. “He doesn’t let you give up,” Dooleysays. “He’s the kind of person who, if you run out ofenergy, is like, ‘Here, take my energy.’”Pratt finds comfort knowing he’s doing the kind ofwork his late wife would have wanted him to do. “Youwake up in the morning, and you know who you’reworking for,” Pratt says. “Helping people rebuilds myheart and soul.” ;

Soul “I wake up every morning and my mission is: What can I do to help someone today?” —Joel PrattContact Joel Pratt atjoel@matchingdonors.com. For moreinformation aboutMatchingDonors,visit www.matchingdonors.com.